ATP Pretreatment Research Articles

ATP Attenuates α1‐Adrenergic and Peptidergic Vasocontraction in Isolated Porcine Cerebral Arteries

IntroductionCompeting influences regulate blood flow control in the brain. In the skeletal muscle vasculature, purinergic ATP signaling attenuates α1‐adrenergic and peptidergic‐induced vascular smooth muscle contraction (i.e., phenomenon referred to as functional sympatholysis); however, whether this occurs in the cerebrovasculature remains unknown. The purpose of this experiment was to examine the effect of ATP on vascular responses to α1‐adrenergic‐ and peptidergic‐receptor activation in cerebral arteries. We hypothesized that ATP would attenuate the α1‐adrenergic‐ and peptidergic‐mediated vasocontraction in isolated pial arteries.MethodsFemale pigs (n=5) were euthanized and their brains harvested. Thereafter, 1A branches of the middle cerebral artery were dissected for wire‐myography. Dose‐response curves for the α1‐adrenergic agonist phenylephrine (PE;1e‐10‐1e‐4M) and the peptidergic agonist neuropeptide Y (NPY;1e‐12‐1e‐6M) were performed in the absence or presence of ATP (1e‐6M). Paired one‐tailed t‐tests were used to compare the overall magnitude of contraction (area under the curve; AUC) and physiological maximal responses between conditions.ResultsData are mean±SD. The AUC of PE‐mediated cerebral vasocontraction was attenuated by ATP (untreated=67±25 vs. ATP pre‐treatment=33±23 AU; p=0.03). However, the mean reduction in the maximal response to PE in arteries pre‐treated with ATP was not significant (untreated=43±15 vs. ATP pre‐treatment=27±11%; p=0.10). The AUC (untreated=62±31 vs. ATP pre‐treatment=37±23 AU) as well as maximal NPY‐mediated cerebral vasocontraction (untreated=65±20 vs. ATP pre‐treatment=49±21%) was attenuated by ATP (all p≤0.05).ConclusionThese data indicate ATP attenuates PE‐ and NPY‐mediated vasocontraction in isolated pial arteries. Thus, similar to the skeletal muscle vasculature, purinergic signaling attenuates vasoreactivity to α1‐adrenergic and peptidergic receptor activation in the cerebrovasculature. Functional sympatholysis may assist in coupling cerebral blood flow to brain metabolism under basal conditions as well as in the setting of heightened sympatho‐excitation.

Role of apyrase-mediated eATP signal in chilling injury of postharvest banana fruit during storage

Apyrase (APY) might regulate the homeostasis of extracellular ATP (eATP) / intracellular ATP (iATP) and mediate plant growth and defense response, but little information on the roles of APY genes in eATP-mediated chilling response of banana fruit during storage has been available. This study identified a total of 10 full-length banana APY genes, analyzed cis-elements in promoters and potential miRNA target sites and found that these APYs had highly conserved functions and might regulate energy metabolism during banana fruit development, ripening and senescence. Exogenous ATP was used to investigate the roles of APY genes in chilling injury (CI) of banana fruit stored for up to 6 d at 6 °C. Application of 1 mM ATP solution effectively reduced CI symptoms, inhibited malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, improved antioxidant capacity, and relatively maintained the homeostasis of iATP / eATP of banana fruit during cold storage. Compared with non-ATP-treated fruit, transcriptional levels of MaAPYs were up-regulated whereas those of nucleoside transporter genes and purine permease genes were down-regulated in ATP-treated banana fruit during cold storage, suggesting that the ATP pretreatment could maintain the relative homeostasis of iATP / eATP. The results provided the new insights into the roles of apyrase-mediated eATP signal in regulating the cold tolerance of banana fruit during storage at low temperature.

ATP Stimulation Promotes Functional Recovery after Intracerebral Haemorrhage by Increasing the mBDNF/proBDNF Ratio

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), including mature BDNF (mBDNF) and precursor BDNF (proBDNF), plays a pivotal role in neuronal survival, synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis. However, the functional effect of the mBDNF/proBDNF ratio in haemorrhagic stroke remains unclear. ATP is a known mediator of BDNF production in neurons and glia. Therefore, we hypothesized that ATP could facilitate BDNF production, increase the mBDNF/proBDNF ratio and thereby alleviate cerebral haemorrhage-induced injury. In this experiment, a model of intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) was produced by injecting 50 μL autologous blood into the right corpus striatum in healthy male rats. ATP was injected to promote BDNF production and increase the mBDNF/proBDNF ratio. After ATP pretreatment, P2X4R-shRNA and SB203580 were used to inhibit P2X4R and p38-MAPK, respectively. We provide direct evidence that ATP administration was successful in promoting mBDNF expression and increasing the mBDNF/proBDNF ratio after ICH injury. Additionally, ATP stimulation could significantly improve cerebral neurological function and alleviate neuronal damage. Furthermore, ATP injection was able to upregulate the expression of P2X4R and p-p38-MAPK. Moreover, both P2X4R-shRNA and SB203580 could effectively abolish the effect of ATP injection on the levels of P2X4R and p-p38-MAPK and the mBDNF/proBDNF ratio. Together, these findings show that ATP stimulation contributes to functional recovery after cerebral haemorrhage and that neuroprotection induced by ATP administration in ICH rats is accompanied by a strong increase in the mBDNF/proBDNF ratio. Here, we also show a significant role of P2X4R-p38-MAPK signalling in the ATP-induced increase in the mBDNF/proBDNF ratio in ICH.

Purinergic Receptors Crosstalk with CCR5 to Amplify Ca2+ Signaling

Many G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) signal through more than one subtype of heterotrimeric G proteins. For example, the C–C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5), which serves as a co-receptor to facilitate cellular entry of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), normally signals through the heterotrimeric G protein, Gi. However, CCR5 also exhibits G protein signaling bias and certain chemokine analogs can cause a switch to Gq pathways to induce Ca2+ signaling. We want to understand how much of the Ca2+ signaling from Gi-coupled receptors is due to G protein promiscuity and how much is due to transactivation and crosstalk with other receptors. We propose a possible mechanism underlying the apparent switching between different G protein signaling pathways. We show that chemokine-mediated Ca2+ flux in HEK293T cells expressing CCR5 can be primed and enhanced by ATP pretreatment. In addition, agonist-dependent lysosomal exocytosis results in the release of ATP to the extracellular milieu, which amplifies cellular signaling networks. ATP is quickly degraded via ADP and AMP to adenosine. ATP, ADP and adenosine activate different cell surface purinergic receptors. Endogenous Gq-coupled purinergic P2Y receptors amplify Ca2+ signaling and allow for Gi- and Gq-coupled receptor signaling pathways to converge. Associated secretory release of GPCR ligands, such as chemokines, opioids, and monoamines, should also lead to concomitant release of ATP with a synergistic effect on Ca2+ signaling. Our results suggest that crosstalk between ATP-activated purinergic receptors and other Gi-coupled GPCRs is an important cooperative mechanism to amplify the intracellular Ca2+ signaling response.

Guanine and inosine nucleotides/nucleosides suppress murine T cell activation

Damaged tissues and cells release intracellular purine nucleotides, which serve as intercellular signaling factors. We previously showed that exogenously added adenine nucleotide (250 μM ATP) suppressed the activation of murine splenic T lymphocytes. Here, we examined the effects of other purine nucleotides/nucleosides on mouse T cell activation. First, we found that pretreatment of mouse spleen T cells with 250 μM GTP, GDP, GMP, guanosine, ITP, IDP, IMP or inosine significantly reduced the release of stimulus-inducible cytokine IL-2. This suppression of IL-2 release was not caused by induction of cell death. Further studies with GTP, ITP, guanosine and inosine showed that pretreatment with these nucleotides/nucleosides also suppressed release of IL-6. However, these nucleotides/nucleosides did not suppress stimulus-induced phosphorylation of ERK1/2, suggesting that the suppression of the release of inflammatory cytokines does not involve inhibition of ERK1/2 signaling. In contrast to ATP pretreatment at the same concentration, guanine or inosine nucleotides/nucleosides did not attenuate the expression of CD25. Our findings indicate that exogenous guanine or inosine nucleotides/nucleosides can suppress inflammatory cytokine release from T cells, and may be promising candidates for use as supplementary agents in the treatment of T cell-mediated immune diseases.

Extracellular ATP Acts on Jasmonate Signaling to Reinforce Plant Defense.

Damaged cells send various signals to stimulate defense responses. Recent identification and genetic studies of the plant purinoceptor, P2K1 (also known as DORN1), have demonstrated that extracellular ATP is a signal involved in plant stress responses, including wounding, perhaps to evoke plant defense. However, it remains largely unknown how extracellular ATP induces plant defense responses. Here, we demonstrate that extracellular ATP induces plant defense mediated through activation of the intracellular signaling of jasmonate (JA), a well-characterized defense hormone. In Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) leaves, ATP pretreatment induced resistance against the necrotrophic fungus, Botrytis cinerea The induced resistance was enhanced in the P2K1 receptor overexpression line, but reduced in the receptor mutant, dorn1-3 Mining the transcriptome data revealed that ATP induces a set of JA-induced genes. In addition, the P2K1-associated coexpression network contains defense-related genes, including those encoding jasmonate ZIM-domain (JAZ) proteins, which play key roles as repressors of JA signaling. We examined whether extracellular ATP impacts the stability of JAZ1 in Arabidopsis. The results showed that the JAZ1 stability decreased in response to ATP addition in a proteasome-dependent manner. This reduction required intracellular signaling via second messengers-cytosolic calcium, reactive oxygen species, and nitric oxide. Interestingly, the ATP-induced JAZ1 degradation was attenuated in the JA receptor mutant, coi1, but not in the JA biosynthesis mutant, aos, or upon addition of JA biosynthesis inhibitors. Immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated that ATP increases the interaction between COI1 and JAZ1, suggesting direct cross talk between extracellular ATP and JA in intracellular signaling events. Taken together, these results suggest that extracellular ATP signaling directly impacts the JA signaling pathway to maximize plant defense responses.

Porphyromonas gingivalis-impaired innate immune response via NLRP3 proteolysis in endothelial cells

Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) is involved in the link between periodontal diseases and atherosclerosis worsening. In periodontal cells, Pg modifies IL-1β expression via the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway activation. Our aim was to investigate NLRP3 inflammasome activation in endothelial cells (ECs) after Pg infection and Pg-LPS stimulation. In both situations, RT-PCR experiments demonstrated an increase of the NLRP3 mRNA level that can be potentiated by pre-treatment of ECs with 5 mM ATP. However, Western blotting analysis revealed that Pg infection induced a proteolysis of NLRP3 protein and a major decrease of the native protein. After ATP pre-treatment and/or Pg-LPS stimulation, this proteolysis was not observed, while NLRP3 protein levels were increased. Proteolysis of the NLRP3 protein was not observed with heat-killed Pg and inhibition of ECs protein synthesis with cycloheximide did not abolish the NLRP3 protein degradation induced by Pg infection in ATP pre-treated cells. Additionally, significant increases of secreted IL-1β were measured after ATP pre-treatment and/or Pg-LPS stimulation, but not after Pg infection. These data showed that Pg and Pg-LPS differentially controlled the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway in ECs, and suggested a novel potential mechanism developed by Pg to reduce IL-1β secretion and to escape host immune response.

Differential Kinetics and Inhibition of Purified Recombinant Tyrosine Kinase 2 (TYK-2) and Its Catalytic Domain JH-1

The Janus kinase (JAK) family consists of four members: JAK-1, -2, -3 and tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK-2). Recent work suggests that cytokine signaling through TYK-2 may play a critical role in a number of inflammatory processes. We recently described the purification and characterization of phosphorylated isoforms of the TYK-2 kinase domain (TYK-2 KD) and its high resolution 3D structure in the presence of inhibitors. We now report the expression and a two-step purification procedure for the doubly tagged full-length construct, H6-FL-TYK-2-FLAG, and examine its properties compared to those of TYK-2 KD. In the presence of ATP and a peptide substrate, H6-FL-TYK-2-FLAG showed a marked lag in phosphopeptide product formation, while TYK-2 KD showed no such lag. This lag could be eliminated by ATP pretreatment, suggesting that the H6-FL-TYK-2-FLAG enzyme was activated by phosphorylation. The potencies of several nanomolar inhibitors were similar for TYK-2 KD and H6-FL-TYK-2-FLAG. However, these same inhibitors were about 1000 times less potent inhibiting the autophosphorylation of H6-FL-TYK-2-FLAG than they were inhibiting the phosphorylation of a peptide substrate modeled after the activation loop sequence of TYK-2. This intriguing result suggests that autophosphorylation and, thus, activation of H6-FL-TYK-2-FLAG is relatively insensitive to inhibition and that present inhibitors act to inhibit TYK-2 subsequent to activation. Inhibition of TYK-2 autophosphorylation may represent a new area of investigation for the JAK family.

Purinergic Stimulation of Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Modulate Their Function and Differentiation Potential.

AbstractAbstract 3848 Introduction:Human bone marrow derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) are adult multipotent cells. hMSCs differentiate in vitro and in vivo into several tissue lineages originating from the three germinal layers making them attractive candidates for bioengineering and cellular therapy. Thus, it seems of great relevance to search putative messengers and signalling able to modulate their proliferation and differentiation. Nucleotides triphosphates are extracellular messengers binding to specific receptors (P2Rs) that modulate cell functions depending on the cell type. Controversial information is available on P2 expression and activity in hMSCs. Methods and Results:Here we found that hMSCs expressed several P2R subtypes. hMSCs were very resistant to the cytotoxic effects of high concentrations of ATP, as demonstrated by the lack of morphological and mitochondrial changes or release of intracellular markers of cell death. Gene expression profiling revealed that ATP treatment down-regulated cell proliferation and up-regulated cell migration genes in hMSCs. Functional studies confirmed the inhibitory activity of ATP on proliferation and clonogenic ability of hMSCs. Furthermore, ATP potentiated the chemotactic response of hMSCs to the chemokine CXCL12, and increased their spontaneous migration. In vivo, xenotransplant experiments showed that the homing capacity of hMSCs to murine bone marrow was increased by ATP pre-treatment. Moreover, ATP increased pro-inflammatory cytokines production (IL-2, IFN-g, IL-12p70), while decreased secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. This finding was associated with the reduced ability of ATP-treated hMSC of inhibiting T-cell proliferation. Microarrays data suggested that several genes implicated in hMSC differentiation can be modulated by ATP treatment. To further investigate this issue, hMSCs cells were cultured under adipogenic or osteogenic conditions and were transiently exposed to ATP before starting differentiation or continuously exposed to ATP for the first 3 days of differentiation induction. We demonstrated that adipogenesis-related accumulation of lipids, analyzed by Oil red O staining, was more evident in ATP treated cultures. Furthermore, quantitative real time PCR (qRT-PCR) assay showed that mRNA expression of PPARg, a transcription factor early up-regulated during adipogenesis, was significantly increased in hMSCs differentiated cells treated with ATP. In osteogenic condition, analysis of mineralized area through Alizarin Red staining, indicated that ATP treatment enhanced the extent of mineralization compared to untreated control. The expression of RUNX2, a key transcription factor in osteogenesis, analyzed by qRT-PCR in differentiated cells confirmed data obtained in Alizarin-based assay. Conclusions:These data demonstrated that purinergic signalling modulates biological functions and differentiation potential of hMSCs. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

P2Y2receptors mediate ATP-induced resensitization of TRPV1 expressed by kidney projecting sensory neurons

The transient receptor potential vanilloid type 1 (TRPV1) channel is a ligand-gated cation channel expressed by sensory nerves. P2Y receptors are G protein-coupled receptors that are also expressed by TRPV1-positive sensory neurons. Therefore, we studied interactions between P2Y receptors and TRPV1 function on kidney projecting sensory neurons. Application of Fast Blue (FB) to nerves surrounding the renal artery retrogradely labeled neurons in dorsal root ganglia of rats. Whole cell recording was performed on FB-labeled neurons maintained in primary culture. Capsaicin was used to activate TRPV1. Four types of kidney projecting neurons were identified based on capsaicin responses: 1) desensitizing (35%), 2) nondesensitizing (29%), 3) silent (3%), and 4) insensitive (30%). Silent neurons responded to capsaicin only after ATP (100 microM) pretreatment. ATP reversed desensitization in desensitizing neurons. Insensitive neurons never responded to capsaicin. UTP, a P2Y purinoceptor 2 (P2Y(2))/P2Y(4) receptor agonist, reversed capsaicin-induced TRPV1 desensitization. 2-methyl-thio-ATP (2-Me-S-ATP), a P2Y(1) receptor agonist, did not change desensitization. MRS 2179 and pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid (PPADS), drugs that block P2Y(1) receptors, did not block ATP-induced resensitization of TRPV1. Suramin, a P2Y(2) receptor antagonist, blocked resensitization caused by UTP. Immunocytochemical studies showed that FB-labeled neurons coexpressed P2Y(2) receptors and TRPV1. We conclude that P2Y(2) receptor activation can maintain TRPV1 function perhaps during sustained episodes of activity of kidney projecting sensory neurons.

Interaction between P2Y receptors and TRPV1 on kidney specific sensory neurons

The transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor is a ligand‐gated cation channel expressed primarilyin sensory nerves and functions as a molecular integrator of sensory input. TRPV1 expressed by sensory neurons also detects salt‐induced changes in tissues and regulates salt sensitivity in hypertension. Sympathetic nerves are closely aligned with sensory nerves in the renal vasculature and sympathetic nerves release ATP that can act on P2Y receptors expressed by sensory nerve fibers. We studied the interaction between P2Y receptors and TRPV1 in kidney specific sensory neurons which are critical for salt balance. Application of Fast Blue (FB) to the nerves surrounding renal artery retrogradely labeled neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRG, T12‐L4) of rats. Ganglia were harvested and placed in tissue culture for whole cell patch clamp recording from FB‐labeled, kidney‐specific sensory neurons. ATP pretreatment reversed capsaicin (CAP)‐induced TRVP1 desensitization. UTP, a P2Y2 and P2Y4 receptor agonist, also reversed CAP‐induced TRPV1 desensitization. Immunocytochemical studies showed that P2Y1 and P2Y2 receptors were co‐expressed with TRPV1 on FB‐labeled neurons. These data indicate that P2Y2/P2Y4 receptors may function to modulate TRPV1 activity. This may be a mechanism of interaction between sympathetic and sensory nerves supplying the renal vasculature.

Effect of ATP on preadipocyte migration and adipocyte differentiation by activating P2Y receptors in 3T3-L1 cells

The effect of extracellular ATP on adipogenesis was investigated using the mouse 3T3-L1 cell line. Incubation of cells with ATP (1-100 microM) for 5 min induced actin filament reorganization and membrane ruffling mediated through P2Y receptors. Enhancement of preadipocyte migration into fat cell clusters is one of the essential processes of adipose tissue development in vivo and cell migration assays revealed that stimulation of P2Y receptors enhanced chemokinesis (migration) in a concentration dependent manner. In this cell line, growth arrest is required before initiation of differentiation and growth-arrested post-confluent cells can be converted into adipocytes by the presence of the adipogenic hormones dexamethasone, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine and insulin. On the other hand, those hormones alone do not trigger differentiation in proliferating cells. ATP did not induce differentiation when applied alone to either proliferating or postconfluent cells. By contrast, proliferating cells (density <50%) preincubated with ATP for 5 min and subsequently given the adipogenic hormones in the continued presence of ATP, underwent adipocyte differentiation mediated through phospholipase C-coupled P2Y receptors. These adipocytes were found to show very similar characteristics, including morphology and intracellular triacylglycerol accumulation compared with adipocytes differentiated from post-confluent preadipocytes with those adipogenic hormones. When proliferating cells were preincubated with ATP before the addition of the adipogenic hormones, gene expression of aP2 (adipose protein 2) was markedly increased within 6 days, whereas without ATP pretreatment the expression level stayed very low. These results suggest that extracellular ATP renders preadipocytes responsive to adipogenic hormones during the growth phase.

Heterologous desensitization of the sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors by purinoceptor activation in renal mesangial cells.

1 Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is considered a potent mitogen for mesangial cells and activates the classical mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade via S1P receptors. In this study, we show that S1P signalling is rapidly desensitized upon S1P receptor activation. A complete loss of S1P sensitivity occurs after 10 min of S1P pretreatment and remains for at least 8 h. A similar desensitization is also seen with the S1P mimetic FTY720-phosphate, but not with the nonphosphorylated FTY720, nor with sphingosine or ceramide. 2 Prestimulating the cells with extracellular ATP or UTP, which bind to and activate P2Y receptors on mesangial cells, a similar rapid desensitization of the S1P receptor occurs, suggesting a heterologous desensitization of S1P receptors by P2Y receptor activation. Furthermore, adenosine binding to P1 receptors triggers a similar desensitization. In contrast, two other growth factors, PDGF-BB and TGFbeta2, have no significant effect on S1P-induced MAPK activation. 3 S1P also triggers increased inositol trisphosphate (IP3) formation, which is completely abolished by S1P pretreatment but only partially by ATP pretreatment, suggesting that IP3 formation and MAPK activation stimulated by S1P involve different receptor subtypes. 4 Increasing intracellular cAMP levels by forskolin pretreatment has a similar effect on desensitization as adenosine. Moreover, a selective A3 adenosine receptor agonist, which couples to phospholipase C and increases IP3 formation, exerted a similar effect. 5 Pretreatment of cells with various protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors prior to ATP prestimulation and subsequent S1P stimulation leads to a differential reversal of the ATP effect. Whereas the broad-spectrum protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine potently reverses the effect, the PKC-alpha inhibitor CGP41251, the PKC-delta inhibitor rottlerin and calphostin C show only a partial reversal at maximal concentrations. 6 Suramin, which is reported as a selective S1P3 receptor antagonist compared to the other S1P receptor subtypes, has no effect on the S1P-induced MAPK activation, thus excluding the involvement of S1P3 in this response. 7 In summary, these data document a rapid homologous and also heterologous desensitization of S1P signalling in mesangial cells, which is mechanistically triggered by PKC activation and eventually another staurosporine-sensitive protein kinase, as well as by increased cAMP formation.

Temporal regulation of agonist efficacy at 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)1A and 5-HT 1B receptors.

Coactivation of purinergic (P 2Y) receptors reduces agonist efficacy at serotonin 1B (5-HT 1B), but not 5-HT 1A receptors. Herein, we report that pretreatment for 5 min with the P 2Y receptor agonist ATP reduced agonist responsiveness at the 5-HT 1A, but not at the 5-HT 1B, receptor. The effect of ATP pretreatment on the 5-HT 1A receptor response rapidly reversed within a 10 min time frame between P 2Y receptor and 5-HT 1A receptor activation. ATP pretreatment effects on 5-HT 1A agonist responsiveness were blocked by the protein kinase inhibitors staurosporine and bisindolylmaleimide, suggesting that the ATP-mediated temporal regulation involves activation of protein kinase C (PKC). Moreover, the temporal effect of ATP was blocked by incubation with 1% ethanol, suggesting that consequences of phospholipase D (PLD) activation play a role. ATP pretreatment blocked the inhibitory effect produced by 5-HT 2C receptor activation on the 5-HT 1A, but not the 5-HT 1B, receptor response, suggesting that the 5-HT 1A receptor itself was the target for PLD/PKC action. Finally, ethanol did not block the reduction in responsiveness of the 5-HT 1A receptor system produced by activation of PKC with phorbol ester treatment, suggesting that PKC activation lies downstream of PLD. Taken together, these data suggest that activation of P 2Y receptors can reduce responsiveness of the 5-HT 1A receptor system via a PLD/PKC-dependent mechanism that is highly dependent upon the temporal pattern of receptor activation. Moreover, this work underscores the importance of time as a variable in receptor signaling cross talk and serves to further illustrate differences between the 5-HT 1A and 5-HT 1B receptor systems.

Inhibition of voltage-sensitive calcium channels by the A2A adenosine receptor in PC12 cells.

The role of the A2A adenosine receptor in regulating voltage-sensitive calcium channels (VSCCs) was investigated in PC12 cells. Ca2+ influx induced by membrane depolarization with 70 mM K+ could be inhibited with CGS21680, an A2A receptor-specific agonist. Both L- and N-type VSCCs were inhibited by CGS21680 treatment. Effects of adenosine receptor agonists and antagonists indicate that the typical A2A receptor mediates inhibition of VSCCs. Cholera toxin (CTX) treatment for 24 h completely eliminated the CGS21680 potency. Similar inhibitory effects on VSCCs were obtained by membrane-permeable activators of protein kinase A (PKA). These effects were blocked by Rp-adenosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphothioate, a PKA inhibitor. The data suggest that activation of the A2A receptor leads to inhibition of VSCCs via a CTX-sensitive G protein and PKA. ATP pretreatment caused a reduction in subsequent rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration induced by 70 mM K+, presumably by inactivation of VSCCs. Simultaneous treatment with ATP and CGS21680 produced significantly greater inhibition of VSCCs than treatment with CGS21680 or ATP alone. Furthermore, the CGS21680-induced inhibition of VSCCs was not affected by the presence of reactive blue 2. CGS21680 still significantly inhibited ATP-evoked Ca2+ influx without VSCC activity after cobalt or 70 mM K+ pretreatment. These data suggest that the A2A receptor-sensitive VSCCs differ from those activated by ATP treatment. Although A2A receptors induce inhibition of VSCCs as well as ATP-induced Ca2+ influx, the two inhibitory effects are clearly distinct from each other.

Characterization of ATP-induced vasodilation in the human forearm vascular bed.

Animal data indicate that ATP derived from aggregating thrombocytes or endothelium induces an endothelium-dependent vasodilator response that is mediated by P2y-purinergic receptors and is reduced when high dosages are administered. This reduced vasodilator response to high ATP doses has been associated with the concomitant release of endothelium-derived contracting factors. In contrast to the endothelium-dependent vasodilator response, ATP as released from sympathetic nerve endings induces a P2x-purinergic receptor-mediated vasoconstrictor response that may contribute to the attenuated vasodilator response to high dosages of luminally applied ATP. The dual action of ATP might be important in the pathophysiology of disease states characterized by an impaired endothelial function and increased thrombocyte aggregation. This study was performed to characterize the vascular response to ATP in humans. The brachial artery was cannulated in 50 healthy male volunteers (age, 18 to 44 years) for drug infusion and measurement of mean arterial pressure. Forearm blood flow was recorded by venous occlusion strain-gauge plethysmography. ATP induced a dose-dependent vasodilator response that was significantly higher than the effect of equimolar adenosine infusion and that was not reduced by concomitant infusion of the P1-purinergic receptor antagonist theophylline. The infusion of the NO synthase antagonist NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) reduced the average fall in forearm vascular resistance (FVR) to acetylcholine (-59 +/- 6% [mean +/- SEM] versus -42 +/- 8%; P < .05; N = 10) but did not affect the vasodilator response to ATP (-68 +/- 3% versus -64 +/- 6%; P > .1; N = 10) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP; -53 +/- 3% versus -49 +/- 4%; P > .01; N = 6). The L-NMMA-induced increase in FVR appeared to be related to the type of vasodilator pretreatment, being 94.7 +/- 16.7%, 44.9 +/- 8.7%, and 40.8 +/- 7.3% for acetylcholine, ATP, and SNP pretreatment, respectively (P < .01 for acetylcholine versus ATP and SNP; P > .1 for ATP versus SNP). In contrast to animal data, high dosages of intra-arterially infused ATP (up to 1000 micrograms.100 mL forearm-1.min-1) did not reveal a reduction in the forearm vasodilator response but appeared to be similar to the maximal forearm vasodilation as observed during postocclusive reactive hyperemia. These observations indicate that ATP induces a potent dose-dependent vasodilator response that is not mediated by P1-purinergic receptor stimulation or by the release of nitric oxide. Moreover, in healthy volunteers, the vasodilator response to high intra-arterial dosages of ATP is not reduced by the release of endothelium-derived contracting factors or by the stimulation of P2x-purinergic receptors on the smooth muscle cells.

Protein-dependent translocation of aminophospholipids and asymmetric transbilayer distribution of phospholipids in the plasma membrane of ram sperm cells.

We have investigated the transbilayer movement of phospholipids in the plasma membrane of ram sperm cells using spin- and fluorescence-labeled lipid analogues. After incorporation into the outer leaflet, phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM) moved slowly to the inner cytoplasmic leaflet, whereas phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) rapidly disappeared from the exoplasmic monolayer. Variation of the initial velocity of the relocation kinetics vs the amount of analogue incorporated into the membrane suggests a saturability of the transbilayer movement of aminophospholipids. ATP depletion or pretreatment with N-ethylmaleimide of ram sperm cells reduced the fast inward motion of PS and PE, indicating a protein-mediated aminophospholipid translocation. The results suggest for the plasma membrane of ram sperm cells the presence of an aminophospholipid translocase and an asymmetric transversal lipid distribution with aminophospholipids preferentially located in the inner leaflet and choline-containing phospholipids in the outer leaflet. The relevance of the transversal segregation of phospholipids for membrane fusion processes occurring during fertilization is discussed.

Ischemia-reperfusion lung injury attenuated by ATP-MgCl2 in rats.

The protective effect of ATP-MgCl2 on ischemia-reperfusion lung injury has been reported in kidney, liver, heart, and muscle but has not been examined in lungs. The aim of this study was to determine whether ATP or ATP-MgCl2 pretreatment would attenuate ischemia-reperfusion-induced acute lung injury and to identify the possible mechanisms for such protection. Typical acute lung injury was successfully induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by 10 min of hypoxia followed by 75 min of ischemia and 50 min of reperfusion. Pretreatment with ATP-MgCl2 (or adenosine) but not ATP or MgCl2 (all at 10(-6) M) significantly attenuated the acute lung injury. All the protective effects of ATP-MgCl2 were nearly undetectable when promazine (an ecto-adenosinetriphosphatase inhibitor) or 3,7-dimethyl-1-propargylxanthine (an A2-receptor antagonist) was added before ATP-MgCl2 pretreatment. These observations support our hypothesis that the protective effect of ATP-MgCl2 is in part mediated through adenosine, the degradation product of ATP, which is produced by the Mg(2+)-dependent ecto-adenosinetriphosphatase on the surface of neutrophils and reacts with neutrophil A2 receptors to inhibit the production of O2 radicals.

Receptor specific for certain nucleotides stimulates inositol phosphate metabolism and Ca2+ fluxes in A431 cells.

We have recently reported that extracellular ATP induces a transient rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ [( Ca2+]i) in individual human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells (Gonzalez et al: Journal of Cellular Physiology 135:269-276, 1988). We have now studied nucleotide specificity and desensitization for several early responses. Extracellular ATP (5-100 microM) caused the rapid formation of inositol trisphosphate and later its metabolites, inositol bisphosphate and inositol monophosphate. ATP also induced the efflux of 45Ca2+ from pre-loaded cells. In addition, an increase in the rate of influx of 45Ca2+ stimulated by extracellular ATP was detected. Based on measurements of 45Ca2+ efflux and influx, desensitization studies, and chlortetracycline fluorimetry, we conclude that ATP mobilizes Ca2+ from internal stores and also stimulates entry across the plasma membrane. These effects were also displayed by UTP and to a lesser extent by ITP, while other nucleoside triphosphates as well as ADP, AMP, and adenosine, were inactive. Furthermore, desensitization of the response to ATP and UTP was seen after prolonged exposure to either nucleotide. This was specific for the nucleotide receptor since a response to bradykinin was not affected by the ATP pretreatment, although pretreatment with phorbol ester inhibited responses to both the nucleotides and bradykinin. Quantitative data on rate of recovery from the desensitized state and the response of desensitized cells to greatly elevated levels of ATP are presented. Extracellular ATP stimulated another early change previously reported for epidermal growth factor, namely, the phosphorylation of an 81-kDa cytoskeletal protein. The stimulation of these events involves an ATP receptor whose properties differ from other ATP receptors that have been described.

Transient stimulation of light-triggered ATP hydrolysis by preillumination of chloroplasts in the presence of ATP

Chloroplasts which were preilluminated in the presence of dithiothreitol and ATP + Mg 2+ show a 1.5–5-fold higher initial velocity of ATP hydrolysis in the subsequent dark than chloroplasts which were preilluminated in the absence of ATP. The half maximal time of ATP preincubation is about 1 min, the half maximal ATP concentration 15 μM. Nucleotide specificity with regard to the diastereomers of adenosine 5′-( O-1-thiotriphosphate) is the same as in nucleotide binding to CF 1 and as the substrate specificity in ATP hydrolysis. ADP abolishes the stimulating effect of ATP if simulaneously present in the light. ATP-stimulated ATP hydrolysis generates a lower transmembrane ΔpH than normal ATP hydrolysis and the relaxation of the flash-induced electrochromic absorption change is accelerated by ATP-preincubation in the light. These results suggest that the ATP pretreatment causes an increase of thylakoid membrane permeability. The target for ATP is most likely the ATPase itself. Dithiothreitol activation in the presence of ATP might induce a reversible dislocation of CF 1 relative to CF 0 resulting in transitory membrane leakage. Reversibility is demonstrated by the finding that the stimulated rate of ATP hydrolysis is normalized after about 1 min. Moreover ATP P i exchange which exhibits a lag under these conditions recovers up to the control rate after 1 min.